Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-08
THE RULER OF THE NAVY.
POINTS. FROM HIS ANNUAL REPORT
 TO CONGRESS.
He Opposes Further Appropriations for Work on single-Turreted Monitors, and Deprecates the Expenditure of Fortunes in Experimental Ship Building.

WOrk on Stng1e-Turreted Monitors, ana
 Deprecates the Expenditure of Fortunes
 in Experimental Ship Building.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. s.-Secretary Whit ney's report will be sent to congress to-mor- row. He says that, with the exception of two cases, the department has practically abandoned the idea of the unprotected tor pedo boat, but he recommends tha continu- ation of experiments in submarine boats. Proposals for the construction of these boats will he received at the navy department on March 1. MT. Whitney is opposed to any further appropriation of money for work on the single urreted monitors. He says:
 "A first class modern ironclad could safely anchor, surrounded by fleet of these moni- tors, without any danger of injury to her self, and any one of her guns could send O projectile through the monitor from stem to stern. It would be little less than murder to send men in these vessels at the present time to encounter any recently built ronclad. I appreciate fully that it is only as tempor- ary expedient that it is suggested, and with the thought that, in the absence of anything else, these might be better than nothing This has been the theory upon which over S5O,000,00o, and probably 75,oOO, ,OOO, have been spent since the closs of the war; It is time to stop it and be content only with the OSSC IL every OOAAdI IS Mdu0 LO COuuG upon something of real value, waste will stop, and not before."
 He recommends that due attention be given to the subject of pneumatic guns and pneumatic gun carriages. On the subjects of the naval reserve and coast defense he says:
 "The department has informed itself fully of the different systems of organization for coast defense and naval reserves at present in force in foreign countries, and is pre- pared to formulate a general plan for a similar organization to meet the require ments and conditions of our own insti- tutions It should resemble in organiza- tlon that of the militia or national guard, rest upon the foundation of local interest. contemplate the employment and rapid mobilization of steamers enrolled on an aux Hilary navy list, and be calculated to pro- duce the best results upon a compar atively small national expenditure. I ask for this question the earnest consideration of con- gress. It may not be out of place, as branch of this subject, to call attention to one of the incidental consequences of the policy pursued by other countries in this matter of a naval reserve. In time of war troop ships or transports are in great demand. Several Euro pean governments make an annual
 
 constructing new vessels. The consideration to the government is a counter agreement, permitting the government to take the yes sel for a transport in time of war upon terms named in the agreement. The government officials are also consulted as to her mode of construction, and she goes on to the naval reserve list. The payments are incidentally ill the nature of a subsidy to the shipowner, and this with the liberal payments for gov ernment transportation of mails, etc., keeps a large fleet of merchantmen af1oat as re- serve read for time of war. Without ships and trained seamen there can be no naval reserve"
 The secretary recommends the construc- tion of five new ships, as follows: Two armor clad vessels to cost, exclusive of armament, not more than 1000, 600, one to be built by contract and one in the navy yards, and three more fast cruisers of the highest type. He says that in six years only four of the present cruising ships will remain serviceable. In other words, the old navy will have disappeared. Encouragement for torpedo experiments is recommended, and suggestion is made that the course in the naval academy be reduced to four years